Neurotypical and autistic children aged 6 to 7 years in a speaker-listener situation with a human or a minimalist InterActor robot

Irini Giannopulu, Valerie Montreynaud, Tomio Watanabe

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Language offers the possibility to transfer information between speaker and listener who both possess the ability to use it. Using a 'speaker-listener' situation, we have compared the verbal and the emotional expressions of neurotypical and autistic children aged 6 to 7 years. The speaker was always a child (neurotypical or autistic); the listener was a human InterActor or an InterActor robot, i.e., a small toy robot which reacts to speech expression by nodding only. The results suggest that a robot characterized by predictable reactions is better able to facilitate autistic children in expression than a human. When comparing to the performance of neurotypical children, the data would indicate that minimalistic artificial environments have the potential to open the way for neuronal organization and reorganization with the ability to support the embrainment of verbal and emotional information processing among autistic children.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIEEE RO-MAN 2014 - 23rd IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication: Human-Robot Co-Existence: Adaptive Interfaces and Systems for Daily Life, Therapy, Assistance and Socially Engaging Interactions
Subtitle of host publication2014 RO-MAN
PublisherIEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pages942-948
Number of pages7
Volume2014-October
EditionOctober
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-4799-6765-0
ISBN (Print)978-1-4799-6763-6, 978-1-4799-6764-3, 978-1-4799-6766-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2014
Externally publishedYes
Event23rd IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, IEEE RO-MAN 2014 - Edinburgh, Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Duration: 25 Aug 201429 Aug 2014
http://rehabilitationrobotics.net/ro-man14/

Conference

Conference23rd IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, IEEE RO-MAN 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEdinburgh, Scotland
Period25/08/1429/08/14
Internet address

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